1 84 PRINCE EDWARD ISLA NI). 



in the spring and late fall they turn into a soft, sticky 

 mud, in which wheels sink to the axle and heavy loads 

 are out of the question. This will hardly surprise the 

 reader when he understands how the roads of the island 

 are mended. They are simply ploughed and harrowed ! 

 Sooner or later the main roads will have to be macada- 

 mized ; stones will have to be brought over from the main- 

 land, or else clay must be baked for the purpose. 



The market-house in Charlotte Town is a sort of assembly 

 room twice a week, where the farmers and their families 

 meet the town's-folk. Gossip is exchanged over a pair of 

 chickens, and two people are often made happy for life 

 over a pound of butter, or a dozen of eggs. It is by no 

 means unusual for a farmer to sell 40Z. or 50/. worth of 

 produce in one market. What of that, the English farmer 

 will say. Well, it is not very much, but remember that 

 the Prince Edward Island farmer has only Is. an acre to 

 pay for his land against the Englishman's 21. or 31. 



A stock farm is maintained by the local government, 

 near Charlotte Town,for the purpose of improving the breed 

 of cattle, and good blood is imported from England and 

 elsewhere. 



The province is famed for its horses. Labour being 

 scarce, and hay and oats abundant, the farmers do as 

 much work as possible by horse power. Numbers of 

 horses are bred for exportation, and they have deservedly 

 a high reputation. Thorough bred stock has at different 

 times been imported from England, and the progeny, 

 though slightly undersized, are tough, hardy animals, with 

 a turn of speed. American buyers come over annually. 

 Prices run from 20/. to 501. Trotting is the one pace 



